eek got to look after wild nephew tomorrow, don't know how!

[phdlife]

My nephew is nearly 9. The last couple of times we were out with him he's been far worse behaved than my 2.6yo - though of course leading my ds astray. I want to help my dsis out and she is really in the lurch but nephew has been so unpredictable lately, she and I are both nervous about it. Really just acting like a toddler (noise, running off, noise, running off, noise, I think you get the picture), admittedly without the tantrums. Not sure what I'm going to do with him for 8hrs, especially as I also have 6m-old dd to manage and nephew just doesn't do quiet or still. Suggestions??

[purepurple]

Set the rules early on, so he knows what is expected of him.
Ask him what he would like to do.
Be positive, expect him to behave. If you expect him to be a handful, he will be.
Stay in charge, be strong.
Good luck!

[phdlife]

I kind of did think that bit about 'expecting' and am going to go to bed now so I'm more likely to feel positive in the morning.

Ask him what he'd like to do? Really? [scared]

[cornsilk]

Keep him well fed and watered.
Swimming is a good one to wear him out. Then a long film!

[pointyhat]

Have you got a large park nearby that you could go to? Take a ball and let him run and run.

Also, get him to be in charge of some activities that your small one can do, helping to build a lego castle or making an obstacle course for cars, that sort of thing.

[phdlife]

think we will try for the park. also thought I might ask him to help me wash floors - that's high on my agenda and he might appreciate the responsibility???

[suzi2]

Yeah, give him lots of responsibility and lots of reward for good behaviour. Get him to help with meals/snacks etc. Actually, I wouldn't have a clue what to do with a 9yr old, let alone an unruly one. Let him play computer games all day?

[purepurple]

Yes, ask him what he wants to do
the more involved he is, the less likely he will misbehave.
Children this age love responsibility, so mopping the floors will be good. Especially if you follow it up with something that he wants to do.
i always find boys this age really sweet, they have an excellent sense of humour, love a good laugh but arnt all hormonal and moody like older boys.

[phdlife]

thanks for tips everyone. we went to the park which was good, though short - impinging on naptime. Nephew was fantastic with babies, as usual. But the floor-mopping just didn't happen. Instead we had a poo emergency, thanks to dd, and the boys tended the garden for me.